Access to the Dublin/Wicklow mountains by bus

LionelNashe

Hi folks,

I am relying on public transport and am running out of fresh options. I have used Dublin Bus to get from the city centre to the hills via Ticknock, Kilmashogue, Stocking Lane & Enniskerry recently. I know that St Kevins Bus gets down to Roundwood for about 12.30 but that's a bit late in the day to be starting at this time of year.

I'm looking for a bus that will get me to anywhere in north Wicklow where I can walk back towards Dublin for 6 or 7 hours, and then get another bus home again. Any suggestions?

hmmm

One thing you could think about is joining a club. They will normally organise transport to and from at a reasonable cost.

CianRyan

Bus to Tallaght and walk up by the hell fire club, to view point and on to the hills?

LionelNashe

CianRyan wrote: »

Bus to Tallaght and walk up by the hell fire club, to view point and on to the hills?

Thanks, but that's what I meant by 'Stocking Lane'. I went from the 74 terminus to the Hellfire club and beyond a couple of weeks ago.
Lately, I have been up and around Two Rock, Tibradden, Cruagh, Knocknagun, Glendoo, Prince Williams Seat. I enjoyed it each time, but I wasn't motivated to go out and cover the same ground again last weekend. (I am looking forward to the summer when there is more daylight to go further afield.)

So is there anything else that is reachable by any kind of public transport, but would give at least 5 hours walking, with a lot of ups and downs? I don't mind if I have to walk along the road at the start or finish for an additional hour each way.

CianRyan

Ah, sorry. I'm not great with road names.

I know the 65B goes up to Blessington but I have no idea about access to the hills from there.
Sorry again if that falls under somewhere you've already said.
I really am terrible.

LionelNashe

CianRyan wrote: »

Ah, sorry. I'm not great with road names.

I know the 65B goes up to Blessington but I have no idea about access to the hills from there.

Well, Blessington (or nearby) might be an option alright. I was just looking at Seefingan & Kippure on the map. If I start early enough then going Seefin, Seefingan, Kippure, Tonduff and Maulin and down to Enniskerry might be a possibility. Only problem is that I tend to overestimate what I can do in a day, and it looks like a stretch as it is. Will have to do a bit of research tomorrow.

Judge

LionelNashe wrote: »

Well, Blessington (or nearby) might be an option alright. I was just looking at Seefingan & Kippure on the map. If I start early enough then going Seefin, Seefingan, Kippure, Tonduff and Maulin and down to Enniskerry might be a possibility. Only problem is that I tend to overestimate what I can do in a day, and it looks like a stretch as it is. Will have to do a bit of research tomorrow.

Mullaghcleevaun from Blessington via Lugnagun, Sorrell and Black Hill and back again is possible if you're fit enough. Probably not enough daylight to complete comfortably at the moment. For the love of Zod, don't try this alone though and make sure you're very comfortable with using your compass - even on a clear day you need to take bearings to navigate the full route. Lugnagun and Sorrell would be very feasible on the short days though.

The 185 to Shop River will give you access to the Glencree area.

LionelNashe

Thanks folks - I took the 65 bus this morning and went up via Seefin for a good few hours. Will try Mullaghcleevaun etc. in the next few weeks

hoanymole

My reccomendation is to get the Dart or bus to Bray or just a bus to Enniskerry and then get 185 from there. Get off at the very last stop which will drop you about a 15 - 30 minute walk from where you can join the Wicklow Way.

It's a gorgeous spot. We have then walked from there to Roundwood and got the Glendalough bus back form there to Dublin or Bray. Bare in mind it took all day! You need an early start, some good walking shoes and supplies for the day. When you get to the top of Djouce and then walk down passed Lough Tay it is more than worth it on a good weather day!

Alternatively there are plenty of looped walks listed on http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/

Judge

Ed* wrote: »

My reccomendation is to get the Dart or bus to Bray or just a bus to Enniskerry and then get 185 from there. Get off at the very last stop which will drop you about a 15 - 30 minute walk from where you can join the Wicklow Way.

It's a gorgeous spot. We have then walked from there to Roundwood and got the Glendalough bus back form there to Dublin or Bray. Bare in mind it took all day! You need an early start, some good walking shoes and supplies for the day. When you get to the top of Djouce and then walk down passed Lough Tay it is more than worth it on a good weather day!

Alternatively there are plenty of looped walks listed on http://www.coillteoutdoors.ie/

Ed, since you seem to be familiar with the route, how many of the 185s actually go all the way to Shop River? The timetable seems to indicate that the majority only go to Palermo or Powerscourt except for those that run after 8pm. Is that right?

Mullaghteelin

Judge wrote: »

Ed, since you seem to be familiar with the route, how many of the 185s actually go all the way to Shop River? The timetable seems to indicate that the majority only go to Palermo or Powerscourt except for those that run after 8pm. Is that right?

I actually thought this myself at first, but no, the bus goes to Shop River throughout the day!
The buses to Powerscourt all go to Shop River too. They leave Bray at quarter to the hour, and leave Shop River at quarter past the hour.

Also, if you're heading north on the Wicklow Way, there's a handy shortcut from Shop River via Coillte Forests and Ravens Rock, which avoids the Glencree-Enniskerry Road. I have found this road to be annoyingly busy at certain times of day, with little room at the side for pedestrians.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/ie/enniskerry/918126787451315772
Click "hybrid map" for a better view. The track through the Coillte forest up to Raven's Rock may not be obvious, and is not on some maps, but its there!
You hit the Wicklow Way near the summit of Prince William's Seat.

Judge

Mullaghteelin wrote: »

I actually thought this myself at first, but no, the bus goes to Shop River throughout the day!
The buses to Powerscourt all go to Shop River too. They leave Bray at quarter to the hour, and leave Shop River at quarter past the hour.

Also, if you're heading north on the Wicklow Way, there's a handy shortcut from Shop River via Coillte Forests and Ravens Rock, which avoids the Glencree-Enniskerry Road. I have found this road to be annoyingly busy at certain times of day, with little room at the side for pedestrians.

http://www.mapmyrun.com/route/ie/enniskerry/918126787451315772
Click "hybrid map" for a better view. The track through the Coillte forest up to Raven's Rock may not be obvious, and is not on some maps, but its there!
You hit the Wicklow Way near the summit of Prince William's Seat.

Thanks! Very useful. It's a shame the 185 doesn't go all the way to Glencree which would make it a much more useful service and would bring tourists into the area.

The route you describe is my usual escape route from the Wicklow Way, especially since the loggers destroyed Curtlestown Wood. Agree taking the path through the trees from Raven's Rock is a bit of a leap of faith the first time you do it but as long as you follow the old wall you're on the right track.

Back on topic - has anyone tried this lot: http://www.wicklowwaybus.com/? Any good?

Mullaghteelin

Judge wrote: »

Back on topic - has anyone tried this lot: http://www.wicklowwaybus.com/? Any good?

That looks interesting, must be a relatively new service.
I notice in the brochure: The bus will run when at least three booking have been made for any route (or the equivalent fare is paid).

Ive walked/jogged from Rathdrum train station to Laragh, via the Clara Vale Nature Reserve, and the back roads. I've also walked from Rathdrum to Glenmalure once or twice. This bus could put an end to all that! :cool:

Its a shame Kevin's Bus doesn't leave Dublin earlier in the morning, and leave Glendalough later in the evening, especially in summer. Its current schedule isn't much use for day-trippers, apart from tourists who just want to take a few photos.

stop

LionelNashe wrote: »

Well, Blessington (or nearby) might be an option alright. I was just looking at Seefingan & Kippure on the map. If I start early enough then going Seefin, Seefingan, Kippure, Tonduff and Maulin and down to Enniskerry might be a possibility. Only problem is that I tend to overestimate what I can do in a day, and it looks like a stretch as it is. Will have to do a bit of research tomorrow.

Did you end up doing this in the end?

I did Maulin, Tonduffs, Kippure, Seefingan, Corrig, Sehan, Butter Mountain and into Brittas last summer which was a nice stretch! Mind you I started (camped overnight) from the Dargle between Maulin & War Hill (Glensoulan) which made it much easier!

LionelNashe

Yes, I went from near Brittas to Enniskerry that Saturday. Nine hours, including a few 10-minute lie-downs in the heather below Tonduff, watching hang-glider thingies circling over Lough Bray. Haven't been up since, but maybe soon, now that the days are longer.

I camped up near that spot you mention once. Had to climb up out of that valley/gulch to near the top of TonDuff before I found a dry flat spot though (in the dark). Exhausting. Then the old simultaneous double-leg-cramps woke me in the night. Four letter words thundered down like avalanches, causing herds of deer and flocks of birds to take flight all over the sally gap.

Mullaghteelin

I did similar traverse from Brittas on a rare sunny day last year, but turned Northeast at Kippure along the old boundary ditch, and crossed the road near Glencree. From there, I followed the track that hugs the southern edge of Knockagun & Prince William's Seat, and continued to Shop River via Raven's Rock.
It took ten hours, but I spent a long while sitting in the sun near Kippure, and took a detour to catch the view at the cliffs overlooking Lough Bray Lower.

I also hiked from Blessington to Roundwood via Mullaghcleevaun, and arrived in Roundwood in time for St Kevin's bus at 4:50pm.
I descended at Mullaghcleevaun East Top and Carrigshouk, and continued on to Brown Mountain/Kanturk.
I had originally planned to return to Blessington from Mullaghcleevaun, but I took a chance and made it to Roundwood in time. An early start is needed for this, I left Blessington at 8am. It was also a spectacular day, with perfect weather.

I want to try it in reverse this summer, by starting at Roundwood in the early afternoon, and finishing in Blessington late in the evening.

fonkalei

hi

The Dublin mountaineer bus should be starting again soon, picking people up from Sandyford Luas.

http://www.dublinmountains.ie/transport/transport/

cheers

Magnet

Is there anyway to park at Shileleagh and get transported with 2 bicycles to the start of the Wicklow Way at Dublin/Marley park area?
Our plan is to cycle back over 2/3 days???
But we don`t want to bring 2 cars....
thanks